Body

Hey Guys how's your Saturday going? I meant to write this post 2 days ago- but -- hence the title of this post, I have experienced some frustrations. Some big frustrations and let me tell you it is hard to not get really DOWN about them, it's hard to not get ANGRY about it and to remain negative and frustrated and wanting to throw in the towel.

But I won't. I have a different attitude about life, about ME, about stuff that happens and about my potential.

Many of you think I've always been Miss Positivity and I do believe for the most part I am- but I have started sharing with you recently -- for the purpose of helping others that have my "struggles" that have held THEM back in THEIR lives ---- my internal feelings, how deeply insecure I have been really in varying degrees my whole life, but even as I have progressed in business and founded my own company and all this -- DEEP down inside I struggle with extreme insecurity. Extreme doubt over my abilities and in the past (a lot less NOW than then) a lot of FEAR and worry about the bad "what if" vs. positivity about the good "what if".

Sometimes getting new hot shoes from Reebok can turn your frown upside down. Our client at FitFluential for years now, I have always been a fan of the sick shoes Reebok keeps coming out with-- these are the Reebok ONE Guide 2.0

I have worn them a while now and I can say this, I really like how very very stable the foundation of this shoe is. I am a big fan of shoes with that feeling that your foot can't move all over the place from side to side, whether lifting in the gym or running. These are just my style and of course I love the colors. Can't wait for Spring to arrive so I can wear CROPPED PANTS and work it!!

So why the title of this post? Well- I referenced this earlier, but I am heading out to Phoenix, now on Tuesday -- staying with Whitney YAYYAYAAY -- to meet with a hormonal balance specialist. I will be co-hosting a series on this whole blasted hormonal imbalance issue that so many women (and men) deal with-- OF ALL AGES, and many don't know about it....some don't know they have hormonal imbalances they just ACCEPT the things that are messed up. I accepted a LOT of crap about my health- probably because I was deep down inside scared to face it, scared that there wouldn't be an answer. I also never questioned anything. For example- I have been on the (birth control) pill since I was 19 years old. I did it because my friend did it. I stayed on the pill all the years of my adult life, never knowing how bad the hormones can be for your body. I'm becoming more aware of that cumulative effect now. I was off the pill briefly a year or so ago then went back on it and- immediately began having MIGRAINES. Never had migraines before in my life. And WOW-- I used to roll my eyes at people saying they had to lie down or not work because of a migraine. LET ME TELL YOU IT'S NOT A JOKE. For me, a migraine hits ONE SIDE OF MY HEAD and it feels like a vice is there gripping tighter and tighter-- no Excedrin will touch it. I just have to lie down and try not to move....for hours. And what is worse-- I get totally nauseated. Completely sea sick feeling and you want to eat something to settle your stomach but-- nothing sounds good, then you do eat and you feel worse and your stomach just gurgles as if in protest.

AWFUL.

I'm not just frustrated with migraines because I have them- frustrated because I didn't push back to the GYNO 8 months ago when I called them and said, "I think this new version of the pill is causing migraines" -- they said no, the dose of estrogen is too low. So I shrugged my shoulders and figured woe is me. DUMB. When I went in to see them for testing for last week (when I had to cxl that trip to PHX because of horrible cramps)-- they said oh yes you should get off that pill this cycle it's 99% certain it's causing your migraines.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? ALL THESE MONTHS-- there are probably a total of several weeks I was out for the count, lying on my couch unable to function because of migraines. I didn't push back.

I WILL PUSH BACK NOW. I WILL TAKE THE INITIATIVE FOR MY OWN HEALTH-- and I have so much I owe to Whitney my BFF,

truly one of the best people on the planet I've met (not to mention I worship her physique and physical capabilities in AWE) - but it was WHITNEY that pushed me to get bloodwork and take all this hormonal imbalance seriously-- and she is the one that has recommended the doctors I am going to see. CLICK HERE to check out their facility and experts. I will share the entire journey with you all and I hope to convince them to join us in a hormonal balance series on FitFluential.com because so many women are in the dark- so many go to an OB or GYN or doctor and like me are told "you're fine!!" NO WE AREN'T. You might very well be in range of "ok" for hormones, insulin, thyroid etc. but trust me, we know our bodies. I always felt the past few years in particular that something was wrong- with as healthy as I was eating and hard as I would train, I would lose fat everywhere but in my core/middle area. And yet I accepted it. I accepted that I cannot fall asleep without PM pills. I accepted my body being HOT (Temp wise) all the time - I accepted the migraines-- I accepted that I NEEDED to stay on spironolactone all my life not knowing it is a steriod!

NO MORE. I do not accept baloney reasons for why this is "ok" for my body. I face my frustrations I don't avoid them and I WILL NOT beat myself up for things like having a migraine and not being able to workout yesterday or today-- I will be more kind and forgiving to myself as I would be to a friend that had a migraine and was complaining about not working out. You guys, I am not proud to share but this is what I've done-- I have felt embarrassed and ashamed that I was "weak" to have migraines or "too weak" to be able to tough it out. I'm not saying I am going to baby myself but here's the deal- I AM FACING MY HEALTH ISSUES. Not sweeping under the rug. And I KNOW-- because I am going to a specialist, I KNOW I will look back on this and wish I had done all of it 4 years ago. And I KNOW my future will be 100% different than the past. And it's dang exciting!

Reebok One GUIDE 2.0

Oh I cannot wait for warm weather and I am FOR THAT REASON among others soooo excited to be working from Phoenix next week. I may very well not come home.

I am off to take it easy today- I don't have a full on migraine but certainly enough leftovers from yesterday that I want to punch someone. Have you ever experienced migraines? Hormonal issues?

Disclosure: Reebok is a client of my company, FitFluential. All views expressed here are my own.

Are you tired of my feet focused photos yet??

Happy Friday! It is with glee this morning that I woke up and put WORKOUT SHOES on! And walked around the house and was able to keep them on, not feel the toe with healing blood blister crying out for me to stop.....big moment. Because you will ask, the shoes above are the Reebok ATV -- VERY VERY cushiony shoes really intended for being outdoors but hey, I walk on the wild side and wear them inside. ;-)

So happy. Yesterday was a tease because although the blister is indeed healing, it was still to the point that putting shoes and socks on was too much pressure and even attempting down dog or anything, NOT appropriate. Today is my first day back.

That said- my eats have been good this week, definitely need to GROCERY SHOP but I have been loving the chicken with that McCormick spice on it- yesterday one meal was that chicken plus lettuce plus avocado mixed with the killer green salsa I am in love with now:

I like this on eggs. I like this in salads. I like it. I also like that it sets my mouth on fire.

I can say this, I am sick to death of tilapia. So I am going to try some new fish seasoning, toppings and new FISH CHOICES. I'm actually surprised I'm liking chicken again but I gotta tell you this spice is pretty life changing. Who knew? Now- here is my babble-on-a-thon from last week. Sorry, getting caught up with my vlogs and blog. It's a new year- and I am back blogging! Yayay! New habits galore! BOOYA.

On a side note, more on this later but I have to tell you- the folks at Nautilus sent me the newCore Body Reformer. I remember looking at it thinking, this might be fun- you guys know how in the past I've loved/enjoyed like barre type workouts and I love a certain Jennifer Kries very old DVD for Pilates- method precision something or other. But-- I can say this, this SYSTEM blew my mind- TOTALLY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

Here is the thing- and I am taking this with me over to my parents house to show them- you can do virtually EVERY conceivable move for your body- and some stretching like a foam roller almost-- with the resistance (3 levels) of the cables- it's pretty awesome. And then, because so many of the moves you can stand on this circular thing-- you gotta BALANCE so it's not just core, tightening the core but I've talked about balance too- equilibrium in our bodies and frankly- my mom after her chemo is working DAILY on just getting her legs and feet ok to BALANCE, she feels just off balance or weak there sometimes. When I say resistance this is not going to be the heavy resistance you can get doing the cable machines at the gym but - these would be different moves and frankly adding the core and balance thing you couldn't do HEAVY HEAVY -- I think this thing in your bedroom or living room, I would do this just work back or shoulders or core or legs while watching TV- I think honestly it is BRILLIANT. Totally not what I expected. Of course I never look at things like this as "This is all I will do". I don't view them as a program- it comes with a DVD and workouts and I am sure they are great but I see this is a key staple tool for at home workouts like kettlebells, Bosu, TRX etc. What do you think?

TRUTH. repost via @instarepost20 from @ev_lacro
You can buy watches, but you can't buy more time!!!! Don't waste time, use time wisely and with purpose... #instarepost20 #FITFLUENTIAL #changeisthenewblack

GOOD MORNING! UGH I woke up at Dark O'Clock and couldn't fall back asleep... So I decided to just be proactive and head to the gym! Time to dominate the day! Shoulders then HIIT then home! WOOOO! what's your plan today? #FITFLUENTIAL #MAKEYOURMOVE #ffcheckin #TEAMWHITNEY

YEAAA KYLIE! Please welcome Kylie to the @fitfluential team! And of course hop on over and join our FACEBOOK groups for your passion! repost via @instarepost20 from @kpessetti
Hey all! So one of my duties @fitfluential #fitfluential is to manage these 9 Facebook groups. Ask to join, I'll accept! 💪😘 You won't regret it 💛 Thanks! #instarepost20

TRUTH.

Do you guys remember I told you a while back about that perfect PANCAKE pan I bought from amazon.com? (And i heard about it from @kaliforndee) .. Well as you can see I always use it to make perfect eggs as well and it is exceptional. Mmmm Eggland's Best eggs plus Ezekiel toast - kind of my go to breakfast on low carb day. NOM NOM. #FITFLUENTIAL #myffmeal #ffcheckin #Ebeggsfit #IIFYM #iifymgirls #TEAMWHITNEY @whitneyjonesaz